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Families of children who experience seizures that have not been controlled by medications or surgery may be offered information about Vagus Nerve Stimulation therapy that has been shown to reduce the frequency and intensity of seizures in most patients since the mid-1990s.
Those who have a vagal nerve stimulator implanted do continue taking medications although the dosage may be reduced after a few months of VNS therapy. Seizure frequency is often reduced by about half the number experienced before implantation.
Vagal or Vagus Nerve Stimulation is accomplished via a pulse generator implanted at the collarbone or armpit that is connected via thin plastic coated wires under the skin to the left vagus nerve in the neck during what is usually a one or two hour outpatient surgery. The battery may be replaced every five or ten years.
The device is usually set to give a half-minute of stimulation per five minutes and "fine-tuned" by the doctor in the weeks following implantation. Another part of the device is a small magnet that is used to start a round of stimulation as a seizure comes on, or to turn off the preset stimulation. Those who have a VNS device may experience hoarseness, changed voice quality, trouble swallowing or a tingling sensation in their neck during the pulse, and so may disengage it while singing or public speaking.
Those who have a vagal nerve stimulator implanted do continue taking medications although the dosage may be reduced after a few months of VNS therapy. Seizure frequency is often reduced by about half the number experienced before implantation.
Vagal or Vagus Nerve Stimulation is accomplished via a pulse generator implanted at the collarbone or armpit that is connected via thin plastic coated wires under the skin to the left vagus nerve in the neck during what is usually a one or two hour outpatient surgery. The battery may be replaced every five or ten years.
The device is usually set to give a half-minute of stimulation per five minutes and "fine-tuned" by the doctor in the weeks following implantation. Another part of the device is a small magnet that is used to start a round of stimulation as a seizure comes on, or to turn off the preset stimulation. Those who have a VNS device may experience hoarseness, changed voice quality, trouble swallowing or a tingling sensation in their neck during the pulse, and so may disengage it while singing or public speaking.